Depth indicator



P. B. HART DEPTH INDICATOR Aug. 9, 1932.

Filed June 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g- 1932- P. B. HART 1,870,352

DEPTH INDICATOR Filed June 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnwza M01,

Patented Aug. 9, 1932 PAUL B. HART, or nousron, runs DEPTH INDICATOR Application filed June 25,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a depth indicator.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of character described whereby the I depth of a well being drilled may be automatically registered as the drilling proceeds.

The apparatus is also designed not only to register the depth at which the drilling tool is working, but to also register the amount of easing or tubing being lowered into or withdrawn from a well so that the driller may observe, at any time, the depth at which he is working by simply observing the gauge or depth counter which may be made to register the depth in any convenient system of units.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which is of very simple construction and which may be easily and conveniently applied to well drillingapparatus now in common use and which is of such construction as to utilize conventional well drilling apparatus in its operation.

With the above and other objects in View this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illus- 8 trated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the apparatus as applied to a conventional drilling rig, and

Figure 2 shows a side view of said apparatus partly in section. Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 desig-I nates the derrick as a whole having the floor 2 and the crown block 3. The numeral 4 designates a conventional draw works-mounted on the floor 2 and embodying the'cable winding drum 5 which operates in the usual and well known manner. The numeral 6 designates the traveling block also of conventional construction. There s an operating cable 7 which is threaded through the sheaves of the crown block and traveling block. ()ne end of the cable is wound around the drum 1928. Serial No. 288,229.

5 and its other end, commonly known as the dead end, is fastened to the derric and is designated. herein by the numeral 8.

The traveling block is raised by winding the cable'7 up onto the drum 5 and is lowered by unwinding said cable from said drum in a manner well known to those familiar with the art of well drilling. The load to be handled by the traveling block 6 is engaged by the hook 9 suspended from said block. The numeral 10 designates a suitable casing which has the extended arms 11, 11 provided with bearings through which the dead end 8 of the cable 7 extends. This casing has an internal chamber 12 which is spanned by a flexible diaphragm 13 forming one side of said chamber. Attached to and extending outwardly from said diaphragm is a rod 14 having an enlarged head 15 around the outer end of which the dead cable 8 works. It is to be noted that the cable is curved outwardly around said head to the end that tension on said cable will tend to force the diaphragm inwardly and contract the chamber 12.

There is another casing 16 spanned by the flexible diaphragm 17 which separates the said casing'16 into two chambers 18, 19. The

chambers 12 and 18 are connected by a flexible tube 20 and said chambers and tube are filled with a suitable fluid such as oil. A rod 21 is attached to the diaphragm 17 and extends out through the chamber 19, working through a bearing 22 in the adjacent side of the casing 16, and having and formed with a head 23.

It is clear that when the chamber 12 is contracted, as above stated, the fluid will flex the diaphragm 17 so as to force the rod 21 outwardly. The numeral 24 designates any, conventional type of revolution counter or register which is operable through the shaft 25. Thisshaft is mounted to rotate in-suitable bearings mounted in the draw works frame.

Splined on said shaft there is a sleeve 26, and

located between the register 24 and the sleeve 26 there is a drum 27 which is loosely mounted on said shaft. The respective ends of the sleeve 26 are formed with convex friction surfaces 29 and 30 and the drum. 27 as well as its outer end free,'

against rotation. There is a suitable support 33 mounted in the 'draw works frame on which the casing 16 is mounted and a shift lever 34 has its lower end pivoted to this support and the upper end of the lever 34 is bifurcated and its fingers 35 fit in the peripheral groove 36 of the collar 37 carried by the sleeve 26. A pull spring 38 has one end connected to the lever 34 and its other end connected to a-suitable anchor in the draw works frame, and this pull spring normally operates to hold the sleeve 26 disengaged from the clutch arms 31 and in engaging relation with the brake arms 32.

Fastened to the lever 34 is a rod 39 in alignment with the rod 21 and whose free end carries a, head 40 which confronts the head 23.

There is a cable 41 one end of which carries a weight 42. This cable works over a pulley 43 carried by the crown block and passes thence over a pulley 44, on the support 33, and is then wound around the drum 27 and passes thence over a pulley 45 carried by the crown block, and has its other. end attached to the traveling block 6.

There are two manually operable levers 46, 47 operatively connected to the lever 34 and throu h which said lever 34 may be operated. When said lever 34 has been operated through either of said manual levers 46 or 47, and the manual lever is released, the spring 38 will release the sleeve 26 from the drum 27 and engage it with the brake arms 32. g It is to be understood that the line shaft .48, of the draw works, is driven from any suitable power, and the rotary drilling machine, on the derrick is driven therefrom. The line shaft 48 rotates constantly and may be clutched with or declutched from the rotary drilling machine through the clutch 49 WhlOh is operated through the clutch lever 50. A reach rod 51 is pivotally connected with the levers 47 and 50, so that when the lever 47 is actuated to engage the clutch 49 /and start the rotary drilling machine, the

sleeve 26 will be also shifted, to clutch the drum 27 with the shaft 25.

The operation of the device is as follows When it is desired to lower a drill stem, or

other tubing, into a well, the hook 9 is en-' gaged in the bails of the elevator connected to the stem or tubing to be lowered. If the load is great enough the tension on the cable 7 will operate through the diaphragm 13 and through the fluid in the chambers 12 and 18 to actuate the diaphragm 17 with the result that the rod 21 will be forced outwardly and the head 23 thereof will operate against the head 40 of the rod 39 which in turn will operate through the lever 34 to clutch the sleeve 26, with the drum 27. As the load is now lowered the drum 27 will be rotated through the cable 41, and in turn will rotate the shaft 25 which will operate the counter or register 24 to indicate the distance the load has been lowered. If this first section of the stem or tubing being lowered is not of sufficient weight to actuate the lever 34, as above described, the operator by suitably manipulating the lever I, 46 may shift the sleeve 26 into engaging relation with the arms 31 until the load being lowered has attained suflicient weight, by the addition of other sections, as hereinafter-explained toautomatically shift said sleeve into such engagement.

When the load has been lowered as far as possible it is then held suspended from the rotary table by the usual slips provided for the purpose and another joint or section of tubing, or stem, may be picked up by the traveling block and screwed onto the section suspended from the rotary and the slips removed and the load again lowered as before. The weight of the load will now usually be sufiicient to automaticall operate'the clutch to engage the drum 27 with the sleeve 26 and as the load is now lowered further, the drum will be rotated, as before, and the register 24 will be operated to indicate the distance. This process is repeated from time to time as new sectionsare added onto the upper end of the tubing or stem, being lowered and the distance of travel of drill stem or other tubing will be from time to time indicated by the register or counter 24. After the load is suflicient to automaticall causethe clutch to operate, if the load is e evated the register cancels, or runs backward and as the load is lowered the register indicates the distance it moves.

When the drilling tool or the lower end of the tubing rests on the bottom of the bore, the tension on the cable 7 is-wholly or partly released thus relieving the pressure on-the dia hram 13 and 17 and freeing the lever 34 to t e pull of the spring 38, declutchin the drum 27 and engaging the sleeve 26 wit the brake arms 32. If now the lever 47 be actuated to engage the clutch 49- and start the rotary, this will also operate to again clutch the drum 27 with the shaft 25 so that while the rotary is operating to drive the drill stem the drum 27 will be engaged with said shaft 25, and as the drillstem is gradually lowered in drilling, the distance will be registered.

As the load is withdrawn from the bore the register 24 will be operated, in the manner described, but in the reverse direction.

While I have shown what I now consider naraaea the preferred form of the invention it is obvious that mechanical changes may be made therein and equivalents substituted for the parts shown and I reserve the right to make such mechanical changes and substitutions as may be found practical within the principle of the invention. What I claim is z 1. A depth measuring device for well drilling operations including a register, means including a cable for moving a load into or out of the well, means movable in unison with the load moving means and adapted to be made effective to operate the register, and means connected to said cable and operable by the load on the cable to operatively connect the register operating means with the register and other means normally tending to release said operating means from the register and effective to accomplish that result when the load is removed from the cable.

2. In a well drilling apparatus having means for moving a load in a Well bore, said .means including a cable, an indicator, normally inoperative indicator operatin means, a flexible line connected to and mova 1e with the load moving means and operatively connected with the indicator operating means, and effective to operate the same, manually operable means throughwhich the indicator operating means may be operatively connected with the indicator, means aflected by the tension on said cable and interchangeably operable with said manually operable means and eflective to connect said indicator oper 'ating means with the indicator, and mechanical means normally tending to disengage said indicator operating means from the indicator.

3. In an apparatus of the character described having means for moving a load in a well bore, said means including a cable, an indicator, normally inoperative indicator or actuating means, a flexible line connected to and movable simultaneously with the load moving means and connected to and adapted to actuate the indicator actuating means, a,

device connected to and arranged to be afiected by the tension on said cable and also operatively connected with the indicator actuating means and through which saidindicator actuating means may be operatively connected with, or disengaged from, the indicator.

4. In an apparatus of the character described having means for moving a load in a well bore, said means including a flexible loadsupporting member, an indicator,means movable simultaneously .With the load moving means and adapted to actuate the indicator, 9. device through which said indicator actuating means ma be operatively connected with, or disengage from, the indicator, means connected to and arranged to be affected, through theload supporting member, under the influence of the stress of the load on said load supporting member and also connected to and efiective to actuate said device to eflect the operative connection of the'indicator actuating means with the indicator.

5. In an apparatus of the character described haw'ng means for moving a load in a well bore; an indicator, a flexible line connected to and movable simultaneously with the load moving means, a device connected to and operable by said flexible line for actuating the indicator, means through which said indicator actuating device may be operatively connected with, or disengaged from, the indicator, means connected to, and under the influence of the stress of the load on, said load moving means, and operatively connected with, and eflective to actuate said indicator actuating device to-efiect the operative connection of the indicator actuating device with the indicator, and means under the control of the operator and operable interchangeably with said first load influenced, and through which said connecting means may be actuated to effect the operative connection of the indicator actuating device with the indicator.

6. In apparatus of the character described having means for moving a load in a well bore; a depth indicating means including a register, means connected to and movable with the load moving means for operating the register, a device for operatively connecting said register operating means with, and disconnecting the same from, the register, means including a confined fluid column, associated with, and arranged to be influenced by, the stress of the load on said load moving means and operatively connected with and efi'ective to actuate said connecting device to eflect the operative connection of said register operating means with the register and means tending to cause said device to efi'ect the diSQOII". nection of said register operating means from the register.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

PAUL HART. 

